AUTONOMOUS DRIVING MEETS REGULATION: Hands off, eyes off, brain off

Euro NCAP'S president warns that without coherent policies, the growing availability of automated technologies may result in piecemeal technology development-and unintentional consequences.

Auto industry legend Lee Iacocca once famously said, “Safety doesn't sell.” Later, he was big enough to modify his stance and candidly admitted in an advertisement extolling the benefits of airbags, “Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?”

Safety has become a “given” in vehicle design and technology, and not least because it is structured within the crash-proof confines of comprehensive legislation. Buyers assume new cars will be safe and getting safer, as OEMs design their products to meet the coveted 5-star rating. But with the prospect of comprehensive autonomous technology gaining acceptance, and major European OEMs and suppliers including Audi, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo investing heavily in it, automotive safety is taking on a whole new dimension.